Second Chance: Adopt-A-Shelter-Dog Month

18 Oct Second Chance: Adopt-A-Shelter-Dog Month

I love October. Not because it brings pumpkins, Halloween costumes (not my favorite mode of dress!), or crunchie leaves to roll around in (love that!). It is because, for millions of dogs, October brings the promise of a better life. Welcome to Adopt-A-Shelter-Dog Month, when the focus is to help homeless animals find loving, happy homes.

Here is how you can help…

First and foremost, adopt. If you are ready to open your heart and home to an animal in need, please consider adopting a pet today. Here at Second Chance you will find many adorable, adoptable animals waiting to meet you right now.

Aurora

For example…me!

My name is Aurora. I am a beautiful five-month-young, black-and-white husky. If you could bottle preciousness and sweetness and cover it with fur and add a wagging tail – well that would be me. Also, as a young Husky, I have lots of playful energy – so thank goodness there are five more Huskies here my same age to romp around with!

Having come from a neglectful situation I need more work on basic training, but I already am doing well with leash walking. And if you know Huskies, than you know we are amazing conversationalists who excel in linguistics and country-singing. And, of course, we are also badass athletes who are particularly looking forward to some fun snow in the Rockies!!!

Not ready to adopt an awesome dog? Well you can still help, through a variety of ways, to support Second Chance save as many lives as possible this October.

Donate online (here) to help cover the costs of the spay/neuter of me and my five friends  and also the medical fund for shelter pets with special medical needs.

Attend the Bow Wow Film Festival which Second Chance is hosting in Montrose this Sunday October 22, 5 p.m.at the Turn of the Century Saloon.

Shop at or donate to one of the Second Chance Thrift Shops in Ridgway or Telluride.

Volunteer to walk or cuddle with shelter pets.

Promote our adoptable pets on your Facebook page.

And last but not least – join us in educating others. Pass on your understanding of the importance of animal welfare and pet adoption to the next generation. Talk to your kids, nieces, nephews, grandchildren, anyone who will listen, about animal shelters and why Adopt-A-Shelter-Dog Month, and pet adoption in general, is important.

One effective way of doing that is, for all those with rescue pets, to post updates of your success stories to our Facebook page. Spread the word about how adopting a pet can forever change your life for the better. Help me and all my friends, now and in the future at Second Chance, get our chance at the live that we deserve and would love…

Editor’s note: It’s no secret. The Telluride region is dog heaven. Well, pet heaven. Unless you are one of our furry friends who gets caught in the maw of neglect and abuse. Then heaven is on hold until Second Chance Humane Society comes to the rescue. Second Chance is the region’s nonprofit dedicated to saving animals’ lives and promoting responsible pet parenting and human-animal bond. In her weekly blog, executive director Kelly Goodin profiles at least one, generally two of the many animals now living at the no-kill shelter, Angel Ridge Shelter, a dog and a cat, hoping to find them loving permanent homes. The column is sponsored by Ted Hoff of Cottonwood Ranch & Kennel, who from time to time exercises his skills as a dog whisperer, partnering with Kelly and her staff to help train a particularly challenging animal.

Ted Hoff with Cabella & Wilbur

By the by, there is no better place to park your pup or get your pup (or adult dog) trained than Cottonwood whenever you head out of town (for locals) or are heading to town and staying somewhere that does not allow pets. Consider joining Ted’s Very Important Dog (VID) Club for added benies. (Details on Ted’s website.)

Second Chance Humane Society Animal Resource Center and Thrift Shop are both located in Ridgway, but service San Miguel, Ouray & Montrose Counties. Call the SCHS Helpline at 626-2273 to report a lost pet, learn about adopting a homeless pet, or about the SCHS Spay/Neuter, Volunteer, Feral Cat, or other Programs. View the shelter pets and services online: www.adoptmountainpets.org

Vetting the Vet: Dr. Michelle Dally, DVM, J.D. is Medical Director of Second Chance Humane Society. She also has a private practice, Dally Veterinary Medicine, 333 S. Elizabeth Street, Ridgway, Colorado. Her service area is  San Miguel Mesas, Placerville, Ridgway, Ouray, and Montrose. For more on Dr. Dally, go here.

Michelle & Wallowby